A Storm in Flanders

The Ypres Salient, 1914-1918 : Tragedy and Triumph on the Western Front

In "A Storm in Flanders, " the Pulitzer Prize nominee revisits the bloody four-year-long Battle of Ypres, a pivotal engagement that would forever change the way the world fought--and thought about--war. Photos.

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While there are many books covering famous World War I battles (the Somme, Verdun), few seem to exist on Ypres. This book, however, isn't the full treatment that front probably deserves.

The author is a decent writer, but his book feels too thin for such a large subject. It does not seem that he's done extensive research. The German side feels underrepresented. And the larger political context was missing. You can learn more about Ypres from John Keegan's broader overview of the First World World War.

As an introduction, this book is fine. But if you're looking for a masterful discussion of life and death in the trenches at Ypres, look elsewhere.